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The Thinking Traveller

The Thinking Traveller

To 2 2 To 222

Here, our intelligent and inquisitive readers, is a short piece that will not tax your brain.  And, hopefully you'll enjoy it. In January 2021, a video of a particularly amusing flight announcement began circulating. The recording, captured at Munich Airport, has an automated airport voice announcing that passengers on flight LH 2222 to Toulouse should…

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Ships of the desert

This might seem surprising, but it should come as no surprise in our world today.  The earth is getting flatter by the day. Cruise Saudi, a 100-percent Public Investment Fund-owned business that seeks to develop Saudi Arabia’s cruise industry, and MSC Cruises have announced the launch of Red Sea cruises in the coming winter 2021-2022…

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Can you Lamu?

Here is a place that might be new for you - Lamu, Kenya.  Almost forgotten in time, Lamu Island is a port, city, and island just off the shore of Kenya in the Indian Ocean approximately 150 miles from Mombasa. It is a part of the East African country of Kenya. Lamu was founded in…

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Binge at the Fringe

In case you've been hiding in a cave for several decades, here is a reminder about the always-hilarious and never predictable annual Edinburgh Fringe festival in Scotland. The founding principle at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is to be an open access festival that accommodates anyone with a desire to perform and a…

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Shore and be gone

A visit to one of Ireland’s many stunning castle hotels is at the top of many travelers’ lists. A stay at a castle hotel is an ornate trip back to the glory and decadence of times gone by. Within a stony castle hotel in Ireland, you’ll find a warm Irish welcome, surrounded by idyllic Irish…

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Behold! The ancient land of Cahokia

The United States of America is a place of many contrasts.  But, do you think it as of an ancient civilization that - 1000 years ago - had that parties that went on for days?  Likely not.  Thats Mexico, isn't it? Cohokia, was home to the largest pre-columbian city north of Mexico. The city was…

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Eat your way across Europe

One of the biggest pleasures of traveling Europe is the food. Every country has traditional and unique dishes to try, giving us the inspiration to spice up our own home cooking. While we can't get out to Europe's food markets to pick up culinary ideas and souvenirs, let us help you to taste your destination…

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Air / space

Sometimes, traveling on aircraft for long periods of time makes you give up hope.  Aircraft can be so uncomfortable, and the seats unforgiving. Those in business or first-class often never encounter the same aches and pains of us hoi poloi,  but the struggle is real. Now, Airbus comes to the rescue with their new Airspace interior designs,…

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Border hopping

The modern-day relationship between Canada and the United States has always been a good one.  Nearly always peaceful, the two countries share many similarities:  language, laws, trade and more. Cross-border travel is another.  The width of Canada and the USA are immense, 7069 kilometres from the west to the east, to be exact.  Getting around can…

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Elon Musk is loopy

Well, that Elon Musk is always doing something.  Whether it's the reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica at nine years old, selling his first company for $307 million, founding PayPal and creating Tesla automobiles and starting SpaceX to send humanity to infinity and beyond. One of his passions is transportation, and his Hyperloop system is well…

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My soul, that is in this stele

Some 2,700 years ago in the ancient city of Sam’al, in what is now modern Turkey, an elderly servant of the king sits in a corner of his house and contemplates the nature of his soul. His name is Katumuwa. He stares at a basalt stele made for him, featuring his own graven portrait together…

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Go go Mongolia

With extreme temperatures and landscapes, extreme living, and some extremely wrong perceptions from outsiders, Mongolia is one of the most complex places—and Mongols one of the most misunderstood people—in the world. Conversations about the weather, the great expanse of the country, and the traditional nomadic lifestyle dominate talk of Mongolia, and it’s understandable. Temperature…

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Pain is just a word for bread

This looks grueling. Put on your best pink tutu, peacock feathers or Viking hat and get ready to run – and drink! Held on 11 September in 2021– just in time for wine harvest – the annual Marathon du Médoc brings contestants to more than 30 vineyards in the wine region of Médoc in France,…

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